From May 5, 2026 to May 9, 2026, the corresponding solar term in the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms) is 立夏(Rikka), and the corresponding microseason in the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) is 蛙始鳴(Kawazu hajimete naku).

What Is “Kawazu hajimete naku” (蛙始鳴)?

"Kawazu Hajimete Naku" (蛙始鳴, "frogs begin to sing") is one of the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons), Japan's traditional system for marking the passage of time. It falls each year around May 5th through May 9th. The Shichijūni Kō divides the year into 72 finely observed seasonal moments, each capturing a subtle shift in the natural world — a calendar born of close attention to the living landscape. True to its name, this microseason marks the time when frogs begin to call. Having slumbered through winter in the earth, they now stir awake, filling the paddies and waterways with their voices. Japanese tree frogs (ニホンアマガエル) and Japanese pond frogs (トノサマガエル) are among the first to appear, and their chorus — rising at dusk or just after rain — has long been cherished as one of the familiar sounds heralding early summer. This period corresponds to the first microseason of "Rikka" (立夏, "Start of Summer") in the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms), meaning that by the traditional calendar, summer has already begun. In farming villages, where temperatures climb and rice-planting preparations get underway in earnest, the frog's cry has historically been welcomed as a good omen for the harvest ahead. Even today, when "Kawazu Hajimete Naku" comes around, those who venture beyond the cities to the rural "satoyama" landscapes can still be greeted by a full chorus of frogs. For anyone drawn to Japan's four seasons and the quiet rhythms of its nature, a walk along the water's edge at this time of year may offer a glimpse of a countryside that has remained unchanged for centuries. Living with an awareness of the Shichijūni Kō can be a gentle invitation for busy modern people to reconnect with the pace of the natural world. Why not use "Kawazu Hajimete Naku" as your cue — and let the changing season speak to all five senses?

List of Japan’s 72 Microseasons